Posted in Organizing Tips and Reports

We weren't sure where to put this playlist, so before giving it an official home here on our blog we thought we'd ask you, our special bloggy friend, what you thought.  Do you think music on blogs is distracting or a pleasant addition? Do you think people should have softer music only, or music that reflects their personalities?

Depending on responses we will either keep this pinky playlist, and find a special spot, or say bye bye to it.  YOU PICK :-)  We'll have this mini poll Open until the end of October. Thanks for your help.  <>< Kelly

Posted in Organizing Tips and Reports

 It's that time of year again, when those of us in Minnesota have to complete our Letter of Intent and MACHECompulsory Reporting Forms, to send into local ISD. It sounds complicated but is really very simple once you have all the paperwork initially completed.  Then each subsequent year you simply fill in the blanks with any new information.  I thought I would share a few of our letters for those of you that may be new to MN, and new to homeschooling.  The 1st one is our cover letter, and 2nd is our Yearly Schedule.

Note: We always have our initials at the bottom of each page, along with our signatures and date, so school offices cannot tamper with paperwork in any way.  I also send all of our paperwork "certified mail," so there is proof ISD offices have recieved paperwork in a timely manner.

SAMPLE LETTER OF INTENT

~ (Your Homeschool Title Here) ~
____________________________________________
Stree Address* City You Live, Minnesota w/zipcode * (area code)phone number 

August 20, 2007 

(Name of Superintendent Here)
(Name of Homeschool Contact Within ISD Here)
Name of Your City Area Public Schools #
Central Offices
Street Address Of School District
Your City, Minnesota w/ zip code
Phone: (area code)123-4567

Dear (Superintendant and Homeschool Contact), 

            This letter is to notify you that we are a continuing home-education family in the ISD #123 school district.  You will find enclosed our 2007-2008 Home-Education Calendar and Non-Public Education Compulsory Instruction Report. 

            If you should have any questions or need to contact us in any way, please call us at (phone number here).  Also, in an effort to keep our home-education records updated/accurate we kindly request an acknowledgement of our letter, and ask that all necessary communication between us include written form.  Thank you for your understanding. 

Respectfully,

______________________________________________________________
(Father/Instructor)                                                (Date)

______________________________________________________________
(Mother/Instructor)                                               (Date)

Initials: _______ ________

SAMPLE CALENDAR INSERT

Street Address* Your City, Minnesota w/ zip code * (phone number)

 
2007-2008 Home-Education Instruction Calendar 
Note:  We are a year-round, home-education family, with structured studies during the months of September (official date 9/05/07) through May, and more casual studies from June thru August. 

The following dates are scheduled for breaks, vacations or holiday’s: 
November 19^th-30^th (Thanksgiving Break)
December 17^th-January 4th  (Christmas Break)
March 17th-30^th (Spring Break)
July 1st– 18^th (Summer Break) 

Mini vacations and travels all throughout summer, during various times, which include educational learning experiences. Dates are subject to change, as needed, for husband’s vacation allowance at work. 

______________________    _______________________
(Father/Instructor)                  (Mother/Instructor) 

Initials: _____ _____


See How easy it can be :-)  No muss and fuss.  The rest of the Compulsory reporting forms can be found at MACHE'S (Minnesota Association Of Home Educator's) website HERE.  Simply print them from your computer and then fill them out by hand.  Also, if you live in a curmudgeonly ISD district you may want to consider enrolling in HSLDA's yearly legal program HERE. 

Happy Yearly Reporting,
 

Posted in Organizing Tips and Reports

I came across these cute "zone cleaning" flip charts, and thought they were unique and fun. Go to Creative Homeschooling at http://www.creativehomeschooling.com/buycleanflip.html to find out more. 

Posted in Organizing Tips and Reports

Okay, my friend Debby posted the "Ten Things She Couldn't Live Without" on her blog called LilAngels .  Since imitation is the highest form of flattery I though I would do the same here, and also encourage you to post 10 things you can't live without on your blog.

(1) God, the Bible, My hubby and dd (I know that was four things but they really deserve to be # 1)
(2) Braun Aqua Express (love it to heat water for tea and hot cocoa)
(3) Dyson Animal Vacuum (oh my goodness this thing does wonders for pet hair!)
(4) Visual HTML books (great for blog and web design)
(5) "Scrap Paper Scissors Mini Organizer " (I use this to hold my makeup and hair products - easy get-ready kit)
(6) Burberry "Weekend" perfume, and Crabtree and Evelyn "Wisteria."  (both scents are my favorites)
(7) Tea - especially Rooibos (red bush) from South Africa. (Thank you Jane for introducing me to this!)
(8) Burt's Bees "Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream." (I never had nails till I started using this product)
(9) Fabric Softener (I am sorry, but I am hooked - any kind anywhere - makes clothes smell so fresh)
(10) Hoover Floormate (excellent in cleaning hard floors - no more mopping!)

I could list so many more items, but will stop here for now.  How about you?  What items make your life easier?

<>< Kelly

Posted in Organizing Tips and Reports

I was compiling a listing of internet links for free forms, for our homeschool co-op, so thought I would share them with you.  Enjoy :-) <>< Kelly

Internet Resources For FREE Homeschool Forms

1. Donna Young Printables, Planners and Resources for Homeschooling and Classrooms (every form you can imagine!) http://www.donnayoung.org/  
2. Homeschooling Forms And More http://www.geocities.com/gpielstick/Homeschooling_Forms.html  
3. CHASE SC (evaluations, report cards, transcripts, planners, student journals, reading/writing lists, extensive timeline resources and printables, etc.) http://www.chasesc.com/forms.html  
4.  Homeschool Forms, Schedules and Aids (course of study, yearly attendance record, chore chart, scheduling, blank world map, etc.) http://members.aol.com/usteach/forms.html  
5. Homeschool Forms Created By Cindy Downes (character study, famous people report, field trip report, unit study reports, portfolio ideas, etc.) http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/forms.html  
6. Worksheets Puzzles and Mazes http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/worksheets.html  
7. Report Cards & Transcripts http://www.geocities.com/homeschoolforms/page4.html  
8. Homeschooling With Notebooks (charts and surveys for Bible, Science History and Book reports) http://www.notebooking.org/charts/index.html  
9. Parker Family Resources For Homeschoolers – Forms & Planners (scheduling, lesson plans, worksheets, read-aloud charts, library forms, certificates, flashcards, etc.) http://home.att.net/~bandcparker/forms.html 
10. Highland Heritage Forms - 823 Forms and Counting! (teaching, planning and oprganizing, Bible, reading, spelling, language arts, ancient church history, awards, science, art, unit studies, nature journals, math, fall of Rome to the Constitution, and much more . . .) http://highland.hitcho.com.au/Forms.htm

Kelly 10/06

Posted in Organizing Tips and Reports

 Great Ways To Personalize Your Blog

I have had a few people ask me how I created this blog and how they can personalize their own blog pages.  So on behalf of the many newbies here at Homeschoolblogger I wanted to share a few tips and tricks to help you customize your own pages. This is just a summary, and much more is needed to be able to do your own personalized pages, but atleast it is a start :-).

START WITH A SIMPLE TEMPLATE
Homeschoolblogger has a myriad of great templates to choose from, and this is the place to start if you are a new blogger, or an html programming newbie. If you go into your Blog Manager, you'll see a category on the left side titled "Edit Template." Click on it and then you will see all the html programming for your page inside the box.  Just above the box is the title "Edit Current Template."  Click where it says to "click here" and then enter the blog template designs area. The main template design I use is called "In The Library." That is my favorite base template and I can change and add just about anything if I have that as my base. Feel free to use the template of your choice; they are all absolutely wonderful! 

LEARN THE BASICS OF HTML

If you want to create a personalized wep page you must learn about html/javascript.  It can sound intimidating, but once you learn the basics then you can build from there, and it can become addictive (lol).  My advice if to go to your local bookstore and purchase a good visual html book. The one I have is called Teach Yourself Visually HTML (2nd Edition)

I use this as a resource all the time and it has everything you need to know to help create your own blog and webpages. It costs about $24.99, but is a well-worth-it investment if you want to get into blogging.

CONTACT SOMEONE TO DO YOUR PAGES FOR YOU

If you find that you just don't have the time or the energy to invest in getting to know html, then I suggest paying for the services of someone to create your web page for you.  This can either be extremely costly or little-to-no-cost depending on who you contact.  Check around and see what you find.  If you can't find anyone, then let me know and I'd be happy to help.  My cost is $8 per hour and it usually takes me anywhere from 4-6 hours to get a blog completed. I would be happy to work with you to help you create your web page. Simply email me at Kellyque@juno.com .

Have Fun, because that is what blogging is supposed to be - an outlet that reflects your life, experiences, thoughts and dreams. Just like a house is a reflection of your life, so is a blog.  The more personalized you can make your webpages, the more people will want to read  them.

Happy Blogging :-)

<>< Kelly

Posted in Organizing Tips and Reports

Oh what a relief to have my curriculum, writing & journaling supplies, hole punchers, sheet protectors, 3-ring binders, etc. etc. all purchased and safe in a special place in our homeschooling center (otherwise known as giant bookshef unit in upper living area).  I organized everything so pretty, with items at my fingertips.  There is just no greater feeling than being organized (whoooo hooo).  I also spent 5 hours yesterday  plotting and planning my daughter's daily assignments (color-coding each one).  It is nice to have this general guideline to follow through the year.  We are a year-round homeschool family with lighter studies May-August and Core subjects September through May.  It works better that way for us because if we don't homeschool year-round then Kaitlin gets bored or we end up spending wayyyy too much money on summer entertainment outside of the home.  We still get to have summer fun and outings, but just not enough to break the bank anymore. 

 We are hoping to take a big trip while everyone else is in school (that always tickles Kaitlin to think of the other kids in a classroom while she gets to go on  vacation).  No offense to anyone who has their child in a "standardized family year scheduled by local ISD" classroom environment, but "nanny-nanny-boo-boo".  Of course I am just havin fun and mean no harm.  Really though . . . imagine yourself at Hershey Park, PA, it's Fall and the leaves are bright orange, yellow  and burgundy and there are no lines to get in on the rides and visit the factory.  Now that is livin Baby!!! Beats sitting in a stuffy old classroom anyday

Okay I've rambled on enough.  Just wanted everyone to know we are all set for our new school year, which starts August 1st.  My engine is all revved up and we're at the starting line ready to go   Oh . . now about that Letter of Intent to our local ISD.  I better "gets" a move on - yesiree!!